Phil Mendelson Vows Transparency by Requiring Campaign Donations – “The big issue for me is improving the council’s oversight function,” Chairman Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, told The Washington Times. “I want a better chance of a fair deal for the District.”  [The Washington Times]

DC Police Force Falls Under 3,800 for First Time in a Decade – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said that there is no personnel crisis. He said discussion four years ago over the 3,800 number was born out of “crisis of the moment” but does not necessarily reflect the city today.  Said Mendelson, who once chaired the council’s public safety committee: “I personally think it would be helpful if the staffing of police were larger.” He added, “At the same time, I really do not think the attrition we’re seeing now is surprising and should set off alarms.”  [The Washington Post]

From all of us at Team Mendo, we wish you and your family a Happy New Year!  See you in 2016!

In Closing a Decrepit Shelter, Does New Housing Need Private Bathrooms? – Some council members and witnesses pushed back, arguing that bathrooms are costly. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) prodded for data to support the claim that shared bathrooms are less safe. Council member Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) questioned whether it would be worth building fewer rooms and including private bathrooms.  [The Washington Post]

Council Weighs Eminent Domain for Alley – Mendelson balked at the idea that Zere thought he could attract anyone to pay more than he did, given that several of the lots appear to have little to no value at all. “I think that the lots are worthless, even the one that still has frontage,” Mendelson said.  [The Georgetown Dish]

Poorer Tenants Fear Being Pushed Out by Planned Congress Heights Complex – “There is no question in my mind that this is a classic situation of a landlord trying to force the tenants out through harassment,” said Mendelson, who said he had to meet with tenants outside during the summer because the air conditioning was broken. “Being in there, that’s the strongest thing they have. The minute they move out, they lose everything they’ve got.”  [The Washington Post]

Big Money for the White House and Congress.  Now for DC City Hall, Too? – Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who has sparred most with Bowser as she has attempted to consolidate power in her administration and away from the council and the city’s first elected attorney general, offered a terse response when asked about the PAC. “No comment,” he said.  [The Washington Post]

WASHINGTON, DC – Phil Mendelson today introduced the “Truancy Referral Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” and the “UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015.”

The “Truancy Referral Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” – co-introduced by Councilmember David Grosso – clarifies the term “unexcused absence” as missing a full day of school for referral to Court Social Services Division (CSS) of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

“We currently have students being sent to court who are chronically tardy but not chronically truant,” Mendelson said. “An immediate need exists for this legislation so these youth do not end up inadvertently involved in the juvenile justice system.”

Chairman Mendelson also introduced the “UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015” to provide District residents, regardless of federal immigration status, the ability to receive in-state tuition and local financial aid at a UDC school or campus as long as they meet certain District graduation and residency requirements.

“Providing these students with in-state tuition and access to local financial aid will allow to them to obtain a post-secondary education and enable them to contribute to the District’s economy,” Chairman Mendelson noted.

Also of note, the Chairman referred the “Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015” to the Committee of the Whole. The legislation will establish a fund that will enable workers in the District of Columbia to receive up to 16 weeks of paid leave for a major life events. The government-run fund will be supported by payments from employers, the self-employed, and certain individual employees. Chairman Mendelson has committed to holding a public hearing on the bill this fall.